On the weekend of the annual New Albany Classic, central Ohio also will host comic book fans,
soccer players, Jersey Boys, and music stars including Blake Shelton and Ani DiFranco.

Here are some of the best bets for weekend activities.

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ALL WEEKEND

-- Ohio Comic Con

The folks at
Wizard World Ohio Comic Con, an annual comic-book convention, will beam aboard
"Star Trek" actor
William Shatner, plus comic artist
Stan Lee and actors from "The Walking Dead" for the event at the
Greater Columbus Convention Center. Hours are 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7
p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $35 Friday, $45 Saturday, $40 on Sunday,
or $65 for a three-day pass. Celebrity appearances may carry a fee. Visit
www.wizardworld.com/home-ohio.html

-- Independents’ Day festival

Now six years old,
Independents’ Day is expanding from a one-day event to a full weekend of
festivities highlighting Columbus music, art, food, film and more. Organizers expect as many as
10,000 attendees to support 40 musicians, 60 artists and crafters, a dozen food trucks and other
participants in the Downtown festival on
Gay Street and in Pearl Alley. Hours are 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Details at
www.thisisindependent.com

-- Jersey Boys

Broadway in Columbus brings the award-winning musical
Jersey Boys, which tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, to the
Ohio Theatre for a run that continues through Sept. 29. Showtimes this weekend are
7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and Sept. 28, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are $28 to $128. Contact: 614-469-0939,
www.capa.com

-- Shakespeare in the Park

Actors’ Theatre of Columbus aims to raise the dramatic stakes in "
Romeo and Juliet," Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy, with a post-apocalyptic update.
This new version will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday at
Columbus Commons, E. Rich and S. High streets. Admission is free, but donations
accepted. Contact: 614-444-6888,
www.theactorstheatre.org

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FRIDAY

-- Blake Shelton

The Country Music Association’s reigning Entertainer of the Year, country superstar
Blake Shelton brings his Ten Times Crazier tour to
Nationwide Arena Friday night. Expect to hear Shelton perform most of his 12 No. 1
singles and tell some stories about his experience as the winning coach in back-to-back seasons of
"The Voice" competition on TV. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $32 to $65. Details at
http://nationwidearena.com

-- Blood, Sweat & Tears

Newark's
Midland Theatre will launch its Lively Arts Series season with the enduring
jazz-rock band
Blood, Sweat & Tears (Spinning Wheel, You’ve Made Me So Very Happy) at 8 p.m. Friday at the theater, 36 N. Park
Place, Newark. American Idol runner-up Bo Bice will also perform. Tickets cost $45 to $65. Call
740-345-5483 or visit
www.midlandtheatre.org

-- Delaware County Fair

The
Delaware County Fair continues Friday with its Veterans' Day activities and ends
on Saturday, designated as Family Fun Day. The fair is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at the
county fairgrounds, 236 Pennsylvania Ave. in Delaware. Admission this weekend is
$6, or free for children 8 and younger. Contact: 740-362-3851,
www.delawarecountyfair.com

* * *

SATURDAY

-- Crew vs. Chicago

Still pushing for a playoff spot, the
Columbus Crew will host long-time Eastern Conference foe the Chicago Fire at 7:30
p.m. Saturday in
Crew Stadium. The teams are meeting for their third MLS match this year, with
Chicago winning the first two. The first 10,000 fans entering the stadium will get a cinch sack
courtesy of Lifeline of Ohio. Tickets are $23 to $48. Details at
www.thecrew.com

-- Ani DiFranco

Singer, songwriter and social activist
Ani DiFranco, back on tour after having a baby in April, returns to the L
ifestyle Communities Pavilion for an indoor show. She has more than 20 albums and
more than 20 years experience performing live. She last visited the LC for a 2010 show. Doors open
at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $30, or $32 on Saturday. Contact: 614-461-5483,
www.promowestlive.com

-- Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

People in search of handmade fine arts and craft items might try the
Columbus Fall Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show. About 100 artists will offer
jewelry, paintings, apparel, home decor, edibles, hair accessories, pottery and ceramics and
sculptures. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at
St. Agatha’s Parish Hall, 1860 Northam Rd. Admission is $3, or free for children
younger than 12. Call 440-227-8794 or visit
www.avantgardeshows.com

* * *

SUNDAY

-- New Albany Classic

Singers
Ariana Grande and
Emblem3 perform before an international equestrian competition at the 16th Annual
New Albany Classic Invitational Grand Prix & Family Day. Hosted by Abigail and
Les Wexner at their home on
Reynoldsburg-New Albany Road, the Classic is a family-focused day of fun featuring
carnival rides, crafts and entertainment. Proceeds benefit The Center for Family Safety and Healing
at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Tickets are $20 and are sold only online at
www.thenewalbanyclassic.com. Children 10 and under
are free with an adult admission.

-- Typhoon

A bigger-is-better mindset fuels the Oregon 12-piece band
Typhoon, which brings its orchestral indie rock to the
Wexner Center for the Arts on Sunday. Touring in support of their new release
"White Lighter," Typhoon will feature xylophone, accordion, horns, strings and drums amongs its
arsenal of instruments. Showtime is 8 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for standing room only.
Contact: 614-292-3535,
www.wexarts.org

-- Spamalot continues

Shadowbox Live continues its presentation of Monty Python's "
Spamalot", the Tony-winning musical "lovingly ripped off" from the 1975 film
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail." The show will be staged at 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday at
503 S. Front St. Shows will be at 2 and 7 p.m. each Sunday through Nov. 17.
Tickets are $30 or $20 for students, seniors and military. Details at 614-416-7625 or
www.shadowboxlive.org